The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been fined $100,000 as a result of Ulbrich’s son participating in a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft.

The NFL confirmed the fines on Wednesday for the roles the Falcons and Ulbrich played in failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club ahead of the draft.

The Falcons, who disclosed the role of Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son Jax in the prank call as the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was waiting for his name to be called in the draft, said they accept the discipline from the league.

At a news conference, Jeff Ulbrich apologized to Shedeur Sanders, his family, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and the rest of the organization.

“My actions — my actions — of not protecting confidential data were inexcusable,” Ulbrich said. “My son’s actions were absolutely inexcusable, and for that we are both deeply sorry. The NFL has taken action and I fully respect the punishment. We take full responsibility, my son and myself, and we will not be appealing the fine in any way. Going forward I promise my son and I will work hard to demonstrate we are better than this.”

Teams announce 5th-year option decisions

The New York Jets exercised the fifth-year contract options for all three of their 2022 first-round draft picks: cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.

Gardner, Wilson and Johnson have been bright spots during a rough stretch for a franchise that has the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons.

According to Over the Cap’s projections on the fifth-year options that kick in during the 2026 season, Gardner would receive $20.2 million, Wilson $16.8 million and Johnson $13.4 million — with the salaries guaranteed.

The deadline for teams to pick up the option year on first-round picks from the 2022 draft is today.

The Baltimore Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on star safety Kyle Hamilton’s contract, but declined to pick up center Tyler Linderbaum’s on Wednesday.

Linderbaum will now have just one year remaining on his rookie deal, but general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement that the Ravens want him with the team long term. Linderbaum has made the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons.

The Atlanta Falcons exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Drake London.

The Cincinnati Bengals exercised their fifth-year option on cornerback Dax Hill.

College sports

Gophers get commit from Pennsylvania RB

The Gophers football program received a commitment from Pennsylvania prep running back Ezekiel Bates on Wednesday.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Bates received offers from Boston College, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and more than a dozen others. The Malvern Prep School product, who also received interest from Michigan State, visited the U during spring practices in late March.

“1000% committed! Let’s Work!” Bates wrote on social media.

Bates, who does not yet have a star rating from recruiting services, was offered by the U on Feb. 19. He is the ninth high school player, and first tailback, to commit to the U for the 2026 recruiting class.

— Andy Greder

Kentucky changes its athletic dept. to LLC

With college athletics bracing for the expected approval of a $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement, the University of Kentucky is believed to be the first school to convert its athletic department to a limited-liability holding company.

The creation of Champions Blue LLC, approved last week by the university’s Board of Trustees, is seen as a way for Kentucky to become more nimble in finding new revenue. The pending settlement in the House case will clear the way for schools to share up to $20.5 million annually with their athletes, but name, image and likeness deals on top of that are seen as a key asset in landing and keeping elite recruits — and that takes money.

The plan calls for a board that will have wide experience in fundraising, and the school noted it hopes to “unlock new revenue streams through public-private partnerships and potentially other transactions, such as real estate.

NBA

Atlanta’s Daniels wins most improved award

Dyson Daniels’ emphasis on defense earned him a starting job in his first year in Atlanta and league-wide respect.

Daniels, who led the NBA in steals while making dramatic improvements in scoring, rebounds and assists for Atlanta, was named the league’s most improved player Wednesday.

Daniels beat out fellow finalists Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cade Cunningham of Detroit.

Haliburton scolds father for postgame fracas

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was so excited about Indiana’s improbable overtime rally that he didn’t realize what led to the postgame scuffle between his teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Then he got to the locker room, watched the replay and winced when he saw his father, John, on the court, confronting two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I had no idea it happened until I got back to the locker room and they showed me the video of my pops,” the two-time All-Star said after he made the decisive layup with 1.3 seconds left to give Indiana a 119-118 victory and a 4-1 series win. “We had a little talk about it. I don’t agree with what transpired there. I think basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited.”

BRIEFLY

Minor league baseball >> Mike Ford hit his fifth homer of the season and the St. Paul Saints beat Columbus 8-7 in 11 innings on Wednesday. Ryan Fitzgerald had one of his two hits on a bunt single to drive in the winning run.

NFL >> The New York Jets announced Wednesday that quarterback Jordan Travis informed them he will retire from playing football.

NFL >> The Buffalo Bills agreed to sign receiver Elijah Moore to a one-year contract potentially worth $5 million, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

— From news services